Going the Distance

I believe Rocky Balboa is perhaps one of the premiere thinkers of the past two generations. Oh sure, he doesn't have great grammar and he wouldn't know the difference between Erasmus and Locke (I don't either come to think of it), but the guy has life figured out. Need proof? Read this quote from the latest movie:

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that! "

Wow! Now that's what I'm talking about.

I can't believe how truly great Rocky really is. The character has such a simplistic approach to life that just works. He believes in people. He believes in good. He believes in hard work and going the distance. And really thats all it takes. The guy works hard; he's generally good to everyone he comes into contact with, including the competition, and people love him for it.

What's more, he knows what love is. Now call me your stereotypical guy, but I think one of the best portraits of love in movies is that of him and Adrian. Probably just about every girl I know right now is gagging themselves, but the Rocky series portrays a true lasting love. Its not based off of anything magical except for two people who believe in each other and who help each other out. After you get past all of the big-screen hype, that is what it is about.

If you need a bit of inspiration in life, then do yourself a favor: go see Rocky Balboa. That includes you ladies!

Time Person of the Year

Time, that magazine Republicans love to hate, has bestowed you the honor of being the person of the year! I couldn't believe it myself! I thought you were fairly incredible, but now that Time says you are I'm sure of it. Don't believe me? Click here for the proof.

My friend Liz thinks this is a cop-out, but still I'm pretty proud of our accomplishment. And when Time puts it in their oh-so-eloquent manner I think they are right. The fact that I am vain enough to sit here and spew my thoughts, or the fact that you would post a video of your photo for the last six years is not much to talk about. But the fact that nearly everyone is either contributing or consuming Web 2.0, and that it has leveled the playing field in many arenas is incredible.

So I'm sure that I'll continue to contribute to this endeavor in the coming year. Look for more blogs where I ramble on incoherently simply due to my narcissism. Or perhaps I'll actually say something useful one of these times. A novel thought indeed - but meanwhile its probably best to amuse yourself on YouTube.

Worth the Read

I don't believe I've ever highlighted somebody else's post. However, I read this post today and was touched by its troubling content and the sincerity from which it was written in. So please read and think/pray about this:

http://pancakesandtea.blogspot.com/2006/12/thirteen-going-on-thirty.html

Words of Wisdom from Unlikely Barnyard Animals

"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."

"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die... By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heavens knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."

~Charlotte's Web

Popularity Invasion

I'm very distraught about something. It seems true nerds are being overrun by imposters. In fact, if we were the least bit hip we'd probably say there are a lot of "posers" out there invading our world. Somehow, with the invention of the Internet and popularity of tools like Facebook and IM, it has suddenly become cool to be nerdy. And brag about it!

The thing is, these people aren't really that nerdy. Is it truly nerdy to like a show like "Lost" and be obsessed about it? Or to say you are a "Trading Spaces" nerd? C'mon people, these aren't nerdy issues. These are popular culture issues. Stop invading our Trekkie world where we dream of multiverses and where we truly wished we lived in the Shire. Do you truly know how much RAM is in your laptop? Or even how RAM works? Seriously people!

I'd love to write more on this subject, but I've got to boogie to Justin Timberlake.

Neglecting the Double-Edge Sword

So I'll just be honest and admit to you that I've neglected God's word for some time. I sometimes get in the rut that thinking prayer, contemplation, and philisophical musings are enough to keep me connected to God. And perhaps in a lot of ways they are. Not everyone after all has the ability to read or even has the ability to own a bible. So surely, as Romans hints at, there are plenty of other ways to get at God's truth. But, as I was reading tonight I remembered why I stopped reading. It's stinking painful sometimes! Ironically, as I was looking the verse up in which I wanted to talk about, I read the previous verse which says this:

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12, NKJV).

And boy did the writer of Hebrews hit that nail on the head. The next verse pierced right through my soul and spirit which reads, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."

A couple of things tonight. First, its important to stay involved in God's word. I'm the biggest hypocrite at this because I know enough of scripture to be slightly dangerous. So I can get away looking like I know the Bible fairly well, but I so often miss what God is trying to tell me TODAY. Merely sitting around pontificating about "the church" or talking about your struggles with faith and God is not enough. You've got to get in there and read, wrestle, and fight with the word of God.

Second, God sometimes really scares me. And I think He should! When I was a kid I used to lie in bed at night going through my day, wondering if God was really going to read off all the things I had thought and done that day that were bad when it was my turn on Judgement Day. Then, as I got older, I learned about grace and sort of forgot about that fear. But still, Hebrews 4:13 should strike a bit of fear in our hearts. I don't think that grace gives us the right to wrecklessly sin. Not even the "small sins." We need to actively pursue a righteous life and not test the limits of Gods grace.

Finally, don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of grace. I just think its good for me to dwell on the fact that God sees everything I do, and knows everything I think. I'm not a very good person when my thoughts and life are revealed, and while I may have everyone else fooled, I cannot fool God.

So break out the double-edged sword and be prepared to be pierced to the very marrow of your soul!